Sunday, June 11, 2006


DISABLED HEROES WILL SEARCH AND RESCUE

The Moenui Disabled Fellowship has been spurred to action by negative publicity surrounding double amputee Mark Inglis' decision to leave a near dead English climber to perish on Mt. Everest. The fellowship, which represents a range of disabled people in the town, today announced that from now on it will be known as Disabled Search and Rescue.
Fellowship President Fred Inglis (no relation) said that the step was a way of showing the public that people with disabilities cared about their fellow citizens.
Communicating via computer generated voice software, Inglis commented that "Mark's action in struggling on to the top rather than trying to carry down the dying climber has damaged the image of all disabled people. This is our way of redressing the balance."
"The Disabled Search and Rescue is set to become the emergency service of choice for those in trouble, both on land and within the beautiful Moenui Harbour."
Inglis introduced key members of the rescue team who then gave this reporter a glimpse of their search and rescue skills. Inglis himself showed remarkable speed and dexterity on his electric wheelchair, pointing out that in a future oil shock he would be the envy of other emergency rescue services. Mostly however, team members brought their experience to the tasks ahead.
"Our disabled rescuers will bring a missing dimension to situations where people are in trouble. Many of us became disabled in emergency situations and so we understand the emotional as well as the physical trauma involved. This depth of experience and empathy is a vital, but often overlooked facet of the rescue situation. Imagine being trapped on a mountain with a broken leg. Consider how relieved you would feel being approached by a rescuer who had experienced a similar circumstance and had lost both legs through frost-bite."
Though no-one in the Moenui team has lost legs through frost-bite and though there are no mountains for a thousand miles, the team does include a surf rescue team leader who lost an arm to a shark attack and a fire team leader who experienced serious burns when firing his motel in a bungled attempt to gain an insurance payout.

The Moenui Disabled Search and Rescue will next week simulate a mass rescue of students and teachers when the Southbank Playcentre comes under a simulated terrorist attack. Southbank Gunclub members will play the role of the terrorists. Newly elected Club President Mahmoud Al Zahri told the "Herald" that he and his companions were happy to help.

Gun Club members at a recent trap shoot

1 comment:

Jen said...

Have I told you lately how bloody brilliant I think you are?